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down her hearing holes. Santy Breanna waved her hands to indicate all should cease their bellyaching, and after a sec or two, all did. Someone shouted out, “We are doomed. We must contact the Agros and ask for their help.”
    “When have the Agros ever helped us?” Santy said.
    There was a general muttering of, “Well, never,” then all went quiet again.
    The sheriff spoke, “The Agros are the least of our worries. The Lost Ones are restless, they have come to claim their interest. Kiddles are going missing. Meeks are took.”
    “That is myth.”
    “Is it Breanna?”
    “Yes. It is. Oh, I know the teachings of the OneGreatProvider and the stuff about one day folk paying for the comfort and joy he gave us.”
    “By the taking of as many now that were saved then. Famine will reign where once was bounty. An Auger will rise and end the hunger. But not before many have died.”
    A massive gasp ripped through the place and even the bound Praisebees gave over to wide-eye. Voices called out for sacrifices to soothe the founder of Cityplace. Greatgrangran got quite animated when a young ‘un said, “Let him have the oldies.”
    I felt as heavy as if I’d eaten our entire stock of oatleys in one sitting, and mumbled so no one could hear, “It wasn’t the dead it was me calling to the birdybirds.”
    “What? What did you say, Adara?”
    Finally, Grangran got my name right, I thought. Then I thought, oops.
    “Have you been practising your namegift?”
    “Well, maybe.”
    Greatgran Amranwen stood, and impressively for one of her age, stepped up onto her chair. She waved her arms around. Santy Breanna called for hush and all turned to Grangran. I tried to say something but she ‘shushed’ me to silence. “You fools. You’ll believe in all sorts of silliness that’s for sure. Dead rising, my saggy butt. There were never any ghosties about. It was Ad…”
    “Amranwen, Granmam, quiet!” Santy yelled and raced down the stairs towards her.
    “Don’t tell me to shush girly. As I was saying, no ghosties in Cityplace, just Adara, singing to the birdies.”
    HUFFIN’ HELL!

Chapter Six
    Saved By The Seat Of My Pantaloons.  

    Santy stopped at the bottom of the stage area. Greatgrangran smiled, held her hand out for me to take so that I could help her down. She huffed and puffed with the effort then sat back on her seat as though nowt had happened. Sheriff Fychan looked at Santy then at me. “What have you to do with all this young ‘un?”
    I shrugged, made a twirling motion with my forefinger next to my head and pointed at Grangran. Unfortunately for me, she noticed.
    “You impudent little aphid. Trying to suggest that I’m not all there in the brain section.”
    She stood and I hoped that she would not try to climb onto her seat again. I was deep in face red as it was. “I’ll tell you what she has to do with all of this. You stay where you are Breanna. Glad you are defending Adler, but the truth must out if these halfwits are to cease their grip on these ghost and ghoulie tales. Stand up girly.” I did not so she gave me a sharp poke in the ribs with her bony fingers.
    “Ow, that hurts.”
    “Good, now stand.”
    I did. I swear my skin was the colour of the setting sun. I stared at the stage and saw Sheriff Fychan’s face turn a dark shade of purple. “Tell all you know olddame.”
    “I have a name young ‘un. I would suggest you use it when addressing one of my advancing years and experience.”
    “Apologies Amranwen, please continue.”
    “Little Adwela.”
    “Adara.”
    “Of course it is. Little Adara is the cause of said nighttime noises that have given all such a scare. She has been singing to the birdybirds as her namegift impels her to do.”
    Santy put her hand over her face and I felt my shoulders droop. Daniel and the other pretend Praisebees began to snicker. Sheriff Fychan tugged on their bonds until they stopped. A mumbling, grumbling rolled throughout the gathered and I picked out one